Romain Feillu extends with Vacansoleil-DCM

Romain Feillu has extended his contract with Vacansoleil-DCM team for two more years; the new contract will see the 27-year-old French sprinter stay with the Dutch ProTeam through 2013.

"My career was delayed due to an injury,” said Feillu. “In the first few months with my new team I had to take a little getting used to, but since then is my career has clearly been on the way up.

“Everything checks out here, so I don't want to move,” he added. “Together with Vacansoleil-DCM I think I’ll be able to grow to an even higher level."

Feillu joined the team in 2010, along with younger brother Brice, after the Agritubel team, where they had spent their careers to date, folded at the end of 2009. The team signed the two Frenchman as it was hoping to secure a wild card invitation to the Tour de France; it was not successful in its quest, and missed out on all three Grand Tours.

Brice left the team after just one year, heading to the Leopard Trek team this year, as he did not fit in with the team’s racing style; Romain though, enjoyed more success and decided to stay on and complete his two-year contract; he has now decided to extend.

"We have great confidence in Romain," explained the team’s general manager Daan Luijkx. "He is a consistent rider who gets good results throughout the season. He knows that he can count on the support of the team, but he is also quite capable of putting himself into a winning position."

Feillu’s biggest result to date came in 2008, when his third place on stage three of the Tour de France saw him take the yellow jersey. He only held it for the day, since he lost it in the following day’s time trial, although he did have the honour of starting the stage last.

After joining Vacansoliel-DCM, Feillu won a number of stages in 2010, including one in the Vuelta a Burgos, and the GP de Fourmies. This year he has won three stages of the Tour Mediterranean, the Tour du Finistere, a stage and the overall at the Tour de Picardie, a stage of the Circuit de Lorraine and one at the Tour de Luxembourg.